Welcome to Texas justice: You might beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

TYC sex abuse case in Pyote will finally begin soon

The trial of former TYC administrator Ray Brookins - who was accused of sexually assaulting youth under their care at the West Texas State School in Pyote - is scheduled to begin April 20, some three years after charges were filed. The Odessa American has an article today covering a pretrial hearing in which the two sides debated whether pornography and sex toys in Brookins' possession at the facility could be admitted as evidence (the judge will rule later, prior to the trial). The defendant's lawyers say it would be prejudicial, while the prosecution says it corroborates students' accounts. See the full story for more detail.

108 comments:

whitsfoe
said...

GFB - I try my best to keep my emotions in check while commenting on your blog, but now I can break the yolk on this comment string that will run wild - no doubt - and exclaim "Hang this sunava bitch." Let them introduce every bit of evidence they have to put this idiot away.

How many court dates have come and gone in this case? I will believe it when the trial starts. There are too many people who don’t want this to come to trial especially until after the Governor’s race is over. If there is ever a conviction it will most likely be a plea deal so testimony is not given in open court on the record. Both of these guys know enough to sink several people if the truth ever comes out. I was at TYC when the continued cover-up of the sex scandal continued on for years while numerous employees tried to alert TYC administration. Lydia Barnard did a stellar job of seeing nothing wrong at WTSS. Why hasn’t Lydia Barnard been brought before a Grand Jury and forced to testify under oath regarding the sex scandal? Rick Perry and Jay Kimbrough did a great job of distracting the public away from the central issues to confuse the public and to appear they were doing something to fix TYC while covering the Governor’s backside. The Texas Legislature went along with the dog and pony show and wrecked TYC. TYC is a terrible place for youth and employees both now. After seeing how our state government handled the TYC scandal from the inside I have no respect or confidence in our Governor or Texas Legislature. We need a massive change in Texas politics. I voted for Debra Median for Governor because she is not a career politician; now that is change I can believe in!

The term is "unfairly prejudicial." The best evidence for the prosecution in a criminal trial is both admissible and highly prejudicial. That's allowed. It's only a problem if it's unfairly prejudicial.

The actual rule is that relevant evidence "may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice." TRE 403.

Thanks Kiele - I was using shorthand so as not to lard my prose with legalese, but the distinction you describe is exactly how I understand it.

Whitfoe, I hope you're wrong that this comment string will run amok, so let me plead with TYC commenters: I'm sick of your flame wars so keep it civil. Please don't leave comments here that you wouldn't be willing to say in front of your kids or your grandparents, and don't start lobbing accusations against individuals not mentioned in the post or the Odessa American article. If that happens, I'll sure as shooting shut this comment string down. Be forewarned.

I just hope this opens the whole story of the cover-up. Several others were aware of Ray's adventures with youth and covered for him. These activities were known all the way to the top people in TYC and they failed to act on the abuses. Time for justice and carma.

It's spelled "Karma". He we go again blaming folks who had nothing to do with Ray Brookins. From what I saw, the OIG investigated and got the ones who could have stopped Ray Brookins before the Rangers stepped in. In fact, that wasn't good enough so they went after innocent employees to put on that show. I know. I was there watching it all.

Apparently, you were part of it, if you say they got all the ones involved, since everyone except you knows there was much more of a cover-up. According to you, its over except for Ray and his ed-buddy. If you were there, then tell the truth.

Its public knowledge that reports were tainted and redacted by those in power involving top investigators. Did you forget about that or just chose to try and hide that fact also from the public? If you are part of the system, you are probably part of the problem.

Ray Brookins used intimidation and charm to control people. He had no friends at WTSS that were trying to cover for him. The problem was no one above Brookins would listen. Those who tried to report him got written up and sometimes fired. He charmed Chip and Lydia to the point they were unable to see the problem. They were duped, but it happened on their watch so it was right that they were dismissed. Ray is to blame for his mess, but the true evil has all come since the media firestorm. The politicians who knew about it in 2005, but kept it quiet until 2007 are not only getting off scott free, but some are even seen as heroes. The voters of Texas are the real victims.

3:11 you talk like TYC is an organism in itself. TYC is and has been an organization made up of a lot of people that have come and gone. There have been some creeps e.g. Ray Brookins, but there have been a lot of good people, too. The agency has not, nor has it ever, been one mind. I don't know what your beef is with TYC, but I'm sure it's with the individuals that you feel did you wrong, and not the whole agency. There is not a TYC lie. There have been liars in TYC, but some good people are out of work now because of liars in the state capital.

Put that in his eye. He does seem to have a beef with TYC. I bet it had something to do with not being promoted. There is a very good reason I can assure you, if in fact that's who I think it is. He just keeps on ranting....

"the two sides debated whether pornography and sex toys in Brookins' possession at the facility could be admitted as evidence (the judge will rule later, prior to the trial)."

Well hell yes that contraband should be presented. It's part of the story. Here's something else: were those sex toys listed on that entry sign that lists prohibitive items? If so, he can be charged with another felony just like that Ombudsman. But I can't remember if pornographic material is listed on that entry sign. Someone speak up...

Pornographic materials is listed on the entry sign, but the sign is in front of the gatehouse entry, and not the administration. The people who enter directly into the administration building were never searched, and still aren't. I'm not sure there is a prohibition for taking those things into the Admin. building, but there probably should have been. Still, I think all the pornography and sex toys were found at his residence.

Go to the Dallas Morning News and search-Texas Ranger Brian Burzynski- you can read his report.TYC has not done much better since all of this has broke, look at where this once proud agency stands today. The programing the leadership, it's a sad state of affairs, I am just glad I was able to retire. Hope all goes well for those still working with this agency

I don't understand why the Texas Ranger would be surprising someone in the men's restroom in the admin building. It's a one person at a time restroom with a lock. He would have had to wait until he came out, and since he didn't arrest Brookins, did he have a right to search him? I hope this Ranger isn't the reason this guys walks because of rights violations.

They were duped! Get real. Several staffers reported misconduct, yet these administrators were duped? It sounds like you are still 'duped'. If you were not involved, don't be so defensive, especially since you don't really know what happened - 'duped'.

6:22 I'm not defending Chip or Lydia. Being duped is not a compliment or a defense. Why would they hide their eyes, if they weren't duped into believing that Ray wasn't guilty? Chip liked Ray, because Ray called him "boss" and jumped when he hollered. Everyone knew what happened by February 2005. It was the Governor and the lege who pretended not to know until 2007. April 2, we are closed because of the lege, not Chip, Lydia, or Ray.

Ray and Lydia. Those were the old days. I was the eternal optimist about all things TYC back then. IMO Ray's reported sexually abusive behavior and the resulting fall out is a snowball that still rolls on today. I am still strongly effected by this just as I know others are effected by it. We always taught about consequences of one's actions in Resocialization (the very good treatment program that Pope Dc'd in rapid manner over the course of one weekend. That plus all the persons that were abused, the fallout in their lives and their families lives, the workers that were walked out without real cause and the Rifs, careers ruined.....on and on. How can one even conceptualize the extent of the damage.

Some of you do not have an adult relationship with the truth. Does denying knowledge of bad events make you feel cleaner or are you simply so brainwashed that you can't see the truth? Either way, your lack of judgement blocks the path to justice.

How did this agency move from resocialization onto to conextions. I understand the pope had a hand in this mess but the argument made against the old treatment program and the new conextions was that youth were being held past their mlos. Has anyone seen what the new and improved program has brought us> Instead of having staff at facilities make decisions to hold a youth past their mlos now you have a board, who arbitrarily do the same from Austin. Makes sense now doesn't it, look at the results of what TYC is turning out now compared to three years ago and you will really be surprised. My caseload is not what it use to be and accountability is a forgone issue, what a sad state of affairs. Brookins and all of those who had a hand in him remaining with this agency will someday pay for what they have done, it will be just a matter of time.

Well said. There are some holdouts that have been protected so far but they must shake each day knowing their bad activities may be revealed and they will pay dearly. Justice is strange at times but those that covered for Ray and other abusers will soon feel the sting of justice.

Oh gosh do not get me started about TYC and their management. Don't know about the Brookins scandal because I was just brought on board last year but how could an organization wake up one day and have all their employees turn their personal keys into the gatehouse staff. Some of these people are under investigation at the gatehouse and I have to give my keys to them. What happens when items are stolen from my car let alone a duplicate house key is made and they break into my home. This was not thought out and the person who decided to do this overnight because two boys escaped from a halfway house is insane, no planning, no thought, no clue, to what they are doing, but they are in authority! I can see why this agency is in the mess it's in, look at these type of decisions and it is easy to figure out.

Typical TYC response....they lose and shut them down! Past time. They don't won't others ideas so they run or hide from the truth. If others disagree...this loser wants it shut down so they can again go hide from the public.

Every time I walk down the halls in CO I feel for the good people that were sacrificed to satisy the public outcry for justice. What is more disturbing is the faces that I know went untouched by the scheme that should have been farmed out for their parts in the tragic mess and disgrace. If there is real justice then some of these being secreted away and disguised as 'real TYCers' need to be allowed to completely dissapear from the agency. Only then can we really move forward.

Yea whatever, I’ll believe it when I see it. I lived in the tyc of Morales v turdman and that big investigation only made tyc worst. Brookins is a punk, he looks like a punk, and I mean that in state boy terms. Nothing ever happens to these morally depraved tyc people. Back in my day the acting governor was heaping praise on his constituency the people who worked the gatesville school while testimony was being taken regarding the brutality of children by these horrid inbreed red neck devils. You want to feel a dark evil karma ride through the town of Gatesville some time. The state had to turn the place over to tdc so developers wouldn’t dig up any bones of children buried around that place. Thats tyc legacy its culture.

This is just another article that will cause tyc’s imp’s who are guilty of molesting children, building empires of waist and cover-up to post defensively and anonymously. In tyc I learned that if your defensive then you are guilty. If a tyc imp is defensive about Randy Chance and wouldn’t want this case to expose the wide spread culture of cover up and abuse then according to tyc thinking you are guilty of child abuse and abusing your position as a public servant. Even though this ass clown bookins and others like him are acting as a servant to these boys, these state imp’s were grossly misinformed about the role of a public servant. You’re supposed to be helping these kids become responsible citizen not letting them get off on you.

I was sent to Mountain View because I wouldn’t have sex with a goat raper caseworker at Brownwood reception center. I would have done her if she wasn’t so damn ugly. She actually thought she was hot. She said I had rabbit fever and should be in maximum security. At least in gatesville the matrons didn’t dress like hookers like they did at Brownwood. I can’t understand why do the matrons at tyc feel like they need to dress like hookers? I mean come on how much of a skank are you that you feel like you should arouse teenage boys?

I pray this case brings tyc into the public’s eye as the spectacle of state sanctioned child abuse that it is. Texas Youth Commission, 120 years of physically, mentally, verbally, sexually, and academically abusing the throw away kids of Texas while wasting the tax payers money, building empires and an elaborate culture of cover-up. Rot in hell tyc for your sin against children rot in hell.

Anyone else out there with a good tyc story those moron state imps would not want you to tell. Please share.

Anyone who would try to discredit a book that helped expose the widespred child abuse in Texas, by pointing errors of spelling, is an award winning idiot! The author should have used an editor, however your attempt to downplay the real context of the book, indicates your own insecurity and possible involvement in criminal activities. Your continued denial that nothing happened bad and that all has been corrected only shows your state of denial and ignorance of reality. You are a drag on TYC and the public trust.

Randy, none of us who have lost our jobs believe that your book had anything to do with any of it. If we did, you'd probably have to move. I hope you sell a million copies. You were long gone before the Brookins incident, but you managed to cash in on it. Good for you. We all know that we lost our jobs because of politics and money.

Yea, MS word corrected emp to imp. Perhaps the MS Word dictionary is aware of the tyc culture. Grammar, well with a tyc education and a college degree in Electrical Engineering from UT grammar is not much of a strength.However point being proved the guilty will be defensive anonymously. Anonymously posting like the chicken hearted imp they are. In defense of the writing style of Raped by the State, even though the author has a master’s degree I’m assuming the writing style was modeled after standard tyc report writing practice and written to an audience of tyc imps. That way even the managers and teachers had a chance of comprehending the authors work.

Now if your guilty of violating your fiduciary duty as a public servant and molesting children in your custody then you’re going to look for anything to criticize those who speak out against this vial state agency tyc and the ignorant who manage tyc. It’s been going on for 120 years why would anything be any different with you people?Sheldon tyc#47333 II c/smvssb gssb Ftyc

If any of you were working at TYC in the early 70's as I was.The same thing happened .The Morales vs Turman case forced TYC to take a look at how some students were being abused agency wise.If it not have been for this case being investigated.There is no telling how long business as usual would have continued.The Gatesville situation was a lot different.People from the legislature would come down from Austin and wittness first hand how discipline of students was being conducted.At that time no one really cared about about child abuse in institutions.I worked at Mountain View.There were homosexual dorms.This was nothing new to TYC.It wasn't that this was a hidden matter.The method that Gatesville managed student behavior was a Generational issue.Things did not began to change until TYC developed the Program Positive Peer Culture better known as PPC. When the program began at Mountain View.It was a big struggle at first.Staff and students had to adjust.In those days.Staff were taught to have Shot Callers to assist in manageing students behavior.These students were the shot callers.TYC at that time used the TDC method.TDC shot callers were known as Building Attendants.Once staff and students bought into the PPC philosipy of "'No-one has the right to hurt or abuse anyone''Things for the better began to happen.PPC at Mountain View became the modle program throughout the nation.We went to Boonesville Missouri and taught them the program.This is the same Missouri program that everyone is now marveling about.To many people don't realize the struggle we went through to bring a sense of pride to this agency.A lot of people want to jump on the Lion now that it is crippled.These are people don't know the history of TYC we the lion was running wild.I personally don't have any sympathy for any staff that abuses kids or anyone.TYC has policies in place that warns against child abuse and anyone that upholds child abuse.If these accused people are convicted.They should blame it on "Making a Bad Choice".As soon as TYC DEVELOPS A TREATMENT PROGRAM AND ASSURE STAFF THAT THE PROGRAM WILL BE SIMPLE ENOUGH THAT ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS CAN COMPRHEND THE PROGRAM.WE WILL THEN BEGIN TO SEE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN THIS AGENCY.I feel that the staff and students have been as well as we can expect them to do without having a concrete treatment program.As I have asked the people that develops these programs many times before?When are they going to start demonstrating the program to staff and students.Giving a class room philosipy of the program is not enough.Aren't there enough staff in the treatment department to travel to institutions and halfway houses to demonstrate the program and do follow ups on the training?When I asked these questions.I was marked as not being a team player.TYC is not as bad as it looks.I've seen this great agency survive cris alot tougher than the one we are facing now.What type of ideas do the critisizers of TYC have to manage the behavior of young adults who couldn't be managed before they came to TYC.We all wish that we could turn all of our youth into productive individuals.It is like fighting a war .There will be some casualities.I don't feel as though any TYC staff come to work consistently to try and help a youth fail.

04:29At TYC the people in Central Office talk to themselves and create paper ideas that they think make them look good. As long as they stick together they can come out with impractical and unworkable plans and they know that the way the culture is the boot lickers at each facility will pretend the plan makes sense.

The facility leaders could look out for the students and staff but instead they seem to always try to score points with the Central office in-crowd. Nothing changes at TYC.

The truth now starts to emerge as employees become distraught with the daily TYC screw -routine. Its all about suck-up and cover each other to get ahead in the usual agency costumes. Why should anyone believe anything that comes from this disgraced agency? The legal so-called investigative branch that makes things OK again after constant turmoil and horrors to youth. Will the lies and veils ever disappear. The new employees are wise to the filth and quality coverage of abusers and won't play the TYC life protection game. Pull the plug, flush the toilet and be done with the whole stinking, tarnished, lying cesspool called a youth agency. Almost a laught, but a real cancer on the state of Texas.

Way too much drama there my friend, get a grip or better yet a life. You spent way too much typing to say that you think the agency sucks, so be it, keep it short and too the point, see now you have me rambling on like an idiot.

See your catching on 8:48, you certainly must work for an agency other than TYC, and such language (dimwit) your momma would not appreciate that, maybe Brookins can share his toys with so you could learn to play nice!

Yall, we all know what the truth was and where our previouse supervisors failed. So, we learned and we move on. Why entertain Randy who is only getting reinforced by your reactions to his constant and provocative taunts? Just ignore him. We know what happened. We know the truth. Just let this 66 year old red headed idiot rant until he rants himself in a grave. Billy H. was a hero for yelling back then. It's too bad LB and CH didn't listen - much less DH. That - we have to eat. Don't give this former employee, a coward if you will, any more reaction. It's ironic to me that he worked there so long "protecting" kids and then documented his obvious failures in a book and expects compensation. If Billy raised so much Hell, and survived, why didn't some so-called "author" of a book do the same. That's how this idiot thinks. Ok, I stabbed him last. Lets ignore him now.

WOW 10:36....he really got to you. Shame on you, you sucka; he brought you to the point where you expresed your real self, as depressing and envious as you obviously are. What a twirp...he fed you the limb and you swallowed the entire tree....you dumb turd. No one else on these posts have been so guillible as you who implied you were tuned by Brookins also and became part of his scheme, through your desire to suck-up and look away at abuse. You built your own coffin and may as well now lie in it. Nut.

10:36 - YOU are the ranter. Your relentless badgering, squabbling and attacks on people you dislike have placed you as 'king of rants'. You must really have serious issues to allow these rants to direct your life, or lack of one. If you are the typical TYC employee, then the problems there are more easily understood. Maybe you should seek some type of mental counselling or life assistance.

Brookins will walk as well as Hernandez, if they had a case against them it would have already happened. They will not spend one day in jail and TYC will continue to suffer based upon a lack of oversight and leadership when this first occurred. TYC will weather the storm and Senators like Whitmire will find other agencies to attack, maybe the Pope will re-emerge as the next Director for TDCJ (Brads not doing to well).A TYC facility will be re-named to honor Whitmire (John Whitmire Correctional facility) and it will be located in Pyote, but at the end of the day all will be just fine, trust me?Solved most of the problems, now I need to work on this health care issue, have a good night

The immaturity is remarkable. The reason things get so toxic here is that TYC is forced to rely on immature and unqualified staff because the agency is underfunded and can't afford to hire appropriately credentialed staff for their positions, or to retain highly qualified staff.

Gosh, so one would not believe a recession is currently gripping the country, and all these well qualified people like your self would never work for an agency like TYC. Give me a break, if you don't like it get the hell out, and don't say your not associated with TYC because you are, who else would blog on this topic.Keep your LN job, I am sure you have been overlooked numerous times for promotions but those evil administrators only choose the brown-nosers who are not as qualified as yourself, or so you keep telling yourself.

Mr sarcastic is attempting to be funny, however what he says is more the truth of the situation. Just another reason TYC is so screwed-up, most aministrators are the ones unqualified; there only because of their thick lips and sucker powers. Whitewash will not solve this serious problem with immaturity and arrogant yes people.

9:29, are you related to Chip? He used to use similiar language. Thats why most staffers hated his guts, except for his blowhard - brown-nosers, like you. You make TYC and that is the problem.....people like you that make TYC a big joke and disgrace to the state and country.

10:18 I am so sure you are always the one standing up speaking your mind at those town hall meeting, more likely you would pee in your pants if you ever had to take a stance on anything with substance. You feel empowered to throw names out which I have not done, but some (most) people intimidate you so it makes you feel good. People like you are whats wrong with TYC, you have never stood for anything your whole life and never will. You blame everyone but yourself, because you have never taken a stand.

Education is not required to be an administrator in TYC. The 'three monkey' technique and ability to place the nose up theirs' w/o blinking, is the main requirements. Thats why there is no respect of these idiots from the field. This together with the 'three blind mice' allows routine abuse as no one officially notices; which allows for reasonable deniability of any abuse.

The only people chosen as administrators in TYC have been those who could be trusted to keep the secrets. These administrators have a two part program: 1. protect their bosses and 2. promote only those who are completely loyal to them and to the TYC culture.

I have known a couple of decent folks that were promoted but when they didn't toe the TYC line and argued against bad decisions, they were asked to 'hit the highway' and basically treated as step kids. TYC culture has caused many good administrators to leave the agency. Now, few employees trust an administrator, except for new people that haven't seen the 'culture' in action. The administrators still around do know the 'secret' and will defend them to the death since they know their bosses will protect/cover for them. I see it every day. I am there.

If that is true don't you know some top TYC people, retired, fired and still hiding in Austin are about to pee their pants. It would be so good to clear the air, find all the corrupts present and now and fill some of the empty space in our prisons! For once - go Ray. We all know several covered in San Saba and Pyote plus what other abuses in Texas.

2/24/2010 04:29:00 PM Your delusions are making you tell lies. Haven’t most of you people died yet. I hear that POS kitchens is still living, now you. You morons actually elected him sheriff of that little podunk child abusing county. How many more of you people are left?

I remember PPC, the dorm man would call group on someone and go have a smoke. When you ran, the dorm got crumbed, then when you came back from cic, lockup, the dorm man would call group, step outside to have a smoke, and you would get your ass kicked. Yes we had punk dorms but what you’re calling a shot caller, in state talk was referred to holding G, and there was a G for each of the races on the dorm White, Negro, Latin, as we were called back then. The G’s worked in the cloths room. We also had office boys but they were called gg’s or snitch’s.

All PPC did was place a legitimized covering program on the day to day abuse for Morales v turdman.

I’m told the devil has a special place for tyc imps who worked at mountain view and gatesville. I despise you people who worked at gatesville, you are the cause of the state agency tyc gone wild. Your whole county is cursed with the blood of children. Even though I played you morons like I played the system you people have done wrong by so many orphans, many of whom are still there today. The blood of these orphans is on your heads.

I hope that Brookins punk rats all y’all out, and like I learned in tyc, if your defensive about an issue like what Chance talks about in his book, then I assume your pedophile ass is guilty. Randy Chance is a hero, just like the boys who risk their lives to tell the feds about the vial human excrement that worked at gatesville and “the view”.

This may also rid us/TYC of the Austin section that tells everything was investigated and taken care of. No one believes that. Those involved in the movement/transfers of known child abuse sex offenders to other units and then moved again will hopefully be brought out. How about those that covered for those looking into the affairs? Lots to look at and correct through firings and pen. time. The statutes shouldn't apply to these freaks hiding under their desks.

As much as Ray is hated, it would be great if he works with officials and helps place the TYCers that were/are involved in the sex youth scandal. It may give our agency a chance to start clean and return to our once great youth services and decent reputation. We may lose some friends in CO, but if they were involved, they need to pay up.

10:43 - Agree with your notions but we wouldn't really lose any or many friends in CO, just acquaintances. Very few are true friends and many so-called friends will stab you in the back to get ahead in the 'culture'. A wicked place that at times makes you itch with tension.

Clearly the feds need to be brought in to look at the division that tells the public that everything is proper in TYC. When the dogs of the "pact' are in charge of the chickens that pay their wages, the truth can easily be distorted for the overall good of the pact. TYC can never be cleansed unless outside authorities, not appointed by the lege, gets involved. The dead bodies will continue to be relocated as needed to present a clean image to the public, truth or not! There is a real truth and then a TYC-truth.

The feds know how to deal with team players in Dallas. Look at Terri Hodges, Don Hill, Hill’s hooker, and Hill’s crash dummy. The DMN reported them saying it was raciest to go after them. I suppose when something as natural as black leaders shaking down whites who want to help the black community becomes illegal it called raciest? I suppose it would be racist if Brookins snitched off on the agencies team players who covered for him.

There were at least two more involved in San Saba and two more at WT that knew about Ray's activities with youth. They were advised by other staff, but covered and were promoted like Chip was. Some in CO helped cover for these conspirators, who are still involved.

A plea bargain has apparently been offered to TB since he was directly involved in the child sex abuse coverups in WT. Maybe after he discovered his butt belonged to his inmates friends, he decided to tell all and protect his butt. He still belongs with similiar type folks in prison.

That is exactly why I said Grits should go ahead and shut the thread down for comments.

Grits very politely said "let me plead with TYC commenters: I'm sick of your flame wars so keep it civil. Please don't leave comments here that you wouldn't be willing to say in front of your kids or your grandparents, and don't start lobbing accusations against individuals not mentioned in the post or the Odessa American article. If that happens, I'll sure as shooting shut this comment string down. Be forewarned."

Grits, thanks for giving us the chance to engage in civil discourse, but you were right to be wary.

4:01 - Go back to bed. You're probably on bosses time anyway. There are others that disagree with you. If you dislike these posts, start your own...but just go away and cry on other posts. You were apparantly spoiled by your parents. Get in the real world...its not just about YOU!

For better or worse, the DA in Ward County gets the lion's share of credit for the eventual closure of WTSS and the drawdown of TYC in general. If he had prosecuted those cases when the Ranger's report landed on his desk in 2005, most of what we've seen since 2007 would never have happened. I wonder if he'll be elected again.

You must be an idiot! With all the news about this HE received 88% of the vote to be reeelected. Do you live in a cave. Ward county people like him and he style. Like it or leave it. Most Warders don't like the tycers, just their money.

Yes, 11:35, I know he was overwhelmingly reelected. If the local economy suffers when the facility is closed, the largest part of the blame will be his, whether his constituents know it or not. What is needed there next election is a credible opponent.

His inattention to his duty was the genesis of a witch hunt. Good TYC employees -- who WERE doing their duty -- were hurt and have no redress.

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David Jennings, aka "Big Jolly"

"I appreciate the fact that you obviously try to see both sides of an issue, regardless of which side you end up supporting."

Kim Vickers,Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and EducationGrits for Breakfast "has probably broken more criminal justice stories than any TX reporter, but stays under the radar. Fascinating guy."

Maurice Chammah,The Marshall Project"unrestrained and uneducated"

John Bradley,Former Williamson County District Attorney, now former Attorney General of Palau

"our favorite blog"

- Texas District and County Attorneys Association Twitter feed"Scott Henson ... writes his terrific blog Grits for Breakfast from an outhouse in Texas."